While browsing e-Bay on February 7th, we clicked on a link about selling on e-Bay and DID authorize a charge of $1.95 for "handling charges" to view the report online. Only a few pages actually printed (despite multiple attempts) so we thought that was the end of that since we took no further action.
On February 29th (a Friday), a pending charge of $59.90 appeared on my online bank statement and the vendor information was shown as "IP EAuction 801-5789020 UT". Because of oddities in how my bank posts entries over a weekend, it disappeared until the following Tuesday, 3/4, when it posted and charged my account.
We called the number shown in the vendor information. They answered the phone as Pacific Webworks. When we inquired about the erroneous charge, they said it was for an online service we ordered. They verbally agreed to cancel the account, but refused to offer any refund for items already billed, stating we had already had and/or made use of their service. When we persisted never having ordered any service, they likewise refused any credit. We asked for the name of a manager, and was given only a first name of Sandra who was not available.
We called back asking for Sandra. She came to the phone, but proceeded to hang up without speaking with us. We then searched online for information on Pacific WebWorks, and immediately found multiple links to complaints on this site (usacomplaints.com), as well as several others showing similar activity.
Pacific Webworks is totally unscrupulous in how they conduct business. We never requested, authorized, or used any online service provided by them. I don't know how they are allowed to continue this practice of fraudulent charges. My guess is the dollar amounts involved to most people are not large enough to trigger aggressive pursuit by any law enforcement agency. Beyond that, I have no idea why they have not been forced to discontinue this activity.
Finally, I am amazed an organization like e-Bay would allow a link to their services to continue being displayed on their website. They should be ashamed.
Glennb
Woodstock, Georgia
U.S.A.
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